Chapter 197: Fourth Stage Spirit Flame Demon Incineration!

Chapter 197: Fourth Stage Spirit Flame Demon Incineration!

Shouyuan Zhenren seemed to have misunderstood something, but he appeared to regain his composure, his eyes now carrying a glint of determination.

Xiao Chen considered for a moment but decided not to shatter his illusions. Taking the Glowing Cold Jade, he turned back toward Lizhou.

According to The Jingkong Sea Travel Notes, Glowing Cold Jade was a rare ice-attribute third-tier Spirit Herb. Carrying it on one's person could calm the mind and focus the spirit. In the future, it could also serve as a primary ingredient for refining spirit pills that enhanced spiritual perception. Such an item would be considered half a rarity even in the Southern Domain. Yet according to Shouyuan Zhenren, he had simply bought it as a souvenir from a roadside stall in the Eastern Territory. As long as one had enough spirit stones, similar items could be purchased freely there. The Eastern Territory was so abundant in third-tier Spirit Herbs that there was no need to barter or economize like in the Southern Domain.

"Tsk tsk tsk, truly extravagant", Xiao Chen muttered as he walked back. "No wonder most cultivators aiming to breakthrough to Golden Core choose to seek opportunities in the Eastern Territory. The disparity in resources is staggering."

It must have been due to differences in spirit veins between the regions that caused such a situation. Indeed, spiritual energy was the cornerstone of the cultivation world.

Though the storytelling delayed him briefly, Xiao Chen returned to Cangyan Peak early the next morning. There, he saw numerous cultivators transporting various plants and flowers, adorning the entire mountain from summit to base. Mingyan Zhenren stood nearby, enthusiastically directing operations.

Clearly, he was deeply invested in this place. Earlier, he had even considered relocating the Lihuo Sect here, but abandoned the idea when Xiao Chen didn't approve. Instead, he decided to build a branch hall here for himself to reside in. He also planned to construct another branch hall on Sihai Sect's original territory, maintaining the existing system of cultivating disciples locally and fostering internal competition through rankings.

"Xiao Chen, you're here!" Mingyan Zhenren greeted him with a smile. "Yesterday was the day the Quenching Light Spiritual Elixir was harvested. The first drop naturally belongs to you."

As he spoke, he pulled out a wide-mouthed cup. Inside was a soybean-sized red dewdrop, radiating faint fire mana. Quenching Light Spiritual Elixir was one of Lizhou's famous specialties, originating from the Quenched Flame Forbidden Realm once controlled by the Cangyan Sect. Accumulating ten drops to fill a small vial would qualify it as a standard fire-attribute third-tier Spirit Herb, exchangeable for resources or personal cultivation.

With the Cangyan Sect's destruction, the Forbidden Realm's output naturally fell to the Lihuo Sect.

"Oh, how often does this elixir get harvested?" Xiao Chen asked, accepting the cup. He noticed the fire mana within was indeed substantial. If the yield wasn't too meager, selling the elixir alone could generate considerable spirit stones.

"Temporarily, it might be sparse—we've just taken over the Forbidden Realm", Mingyan Zhenren calculated. "But once we renovate the realm and station a fire-attribute Foundation Building cultivator there, we could harvest two drops annually. I estimate five years to accumulate a full vial. Compared to the output from our Yanchi Secret Realm, this is much faster."

"Wait, five years?!" Xiao Chen nearly thought he'd misheard. No wonder they'd only offered one drop—this year's total harvest was just a single Quenching Light Spiritual Elixir!

He waved his hand, declining. "Since it's a fire-attribute elixir, Senior Sect Brother should keep it. As a wood spirit root cultivator, using it would be wasteful. No need."

Mingyan Zhenren harbored doubts. He didn't believe Xiao Chen's cultivation speed was limited by spirit root compatibility. But since the younger cultivator declined, he happily accepted the elixir himself. After all, as a fire spirit root cultivator, he was perfectly compatible with the Five Elements.

"Senior Sect Brother, I need to check on the spirit flame. I'll take my leave first", Xiao Chen said, re-entering Cangyan Peak to begin the second feeding round.

Strangely, the Beidou spirit flame's rate of devouring other flames had noticeably slowed, as if reaching its limit. Yet over four consecutive days, it consumed three spirit flames without significant reaction. Fortunately, Xiao Chen had other tasks. While infusing true mana, he began dismantling the storage bags seized from the battle.

Defeating eight demonic sect Golden Cores naturally yielded spoils. According to combat contributions, Xiao Chen alone received five storage bags. Now, he took the opportunity to crack their sealing formations and inventory the contents.

"Boom!" As soon as he opened a storage bag, a puff of pink smoke erupted. Xiao Chen immediately inhaled, swallowing the toxic fumes to prevent them from interfering with the nearby spirit flame.

Compared to the Cangyan Sect's Golden Core storage bags, the demonic cultivators' were chaotic. Though items were categorized, the sheer variety made the contents appear disordered.

First, a pile of mixed spirit stones—middle-grade and lower-grade stones jumbled together. The total was modest: 2,420 middle-grade and 197,000 lower-grade spirit stones.

Next, a uniquely shaped demonic weapon from Niejing Zhenren's bag, radiating dense demonic qi. It had clearly undergone extensive ritual refinement. Unfortunately, Niejing Zhenren hadn't had time to use it before being incinerated by the True Yang Fire Dragon.

Then, a disk-shaped spiritual artifact, one foot long and two inches thick. Its front bore an "Ice Phoenix Soaring" pattern, each feather lifelike. The back embedded three Ice Spirit Pearls—third-tier Spirit Herbs used as power sources. Xiao Chen's spiritual sense detected two were depleted, with only half a unit remaining in the last.

"This craftsmanship doesn't resemble local artifacts", he mused. A spiritual artifact requiring third-tier Spirit Herbs as consumables was unlikely to be affordable in the Southern Domain, especially since ice-attribute herbs were rare there. This Ice Phoenix Soaring Compass was likely obtained from the Eastern Territory.

Next, a scroll with golden inscriptions and silver clerical script, depicting nine grand mountains. Unfurling it, the colors seemed muted, the brushwork ordinary. Yet combined, they exuded a unique charm.

"Fascinating—could this be a Spiritual Resonance Chart?" Legends spoke of cultivators preserving their understanding of the heavens or spell insights in paintings. Xiao Chen had once seen one in the Yin-Yang Synergy Manual, which greatly aided him. Occasionally reviewing it still helped him grasp yin-yang principles.

But here was the problem: "What script is this?" The silver clerical script on the scroll was entirely unfamiliar. The golden seal below was equally unrecognizable.

This was perplexing. While the Southern Domain's mortal world had various scripts, cultivators universally used the ancient Immortal Script. Ancient texts from tens of thousands of years ago used the same script as today. Travel records confirmed even the Eastern Territory shared this script. So why was this divine painting inscribed in an obscure script?

"Could it be another attempt to prevent self-learning?" Many cultivators guarded secrets—omitting details in manuals, relying on oral transmission. Without hints, Xiao Chen couldn't grasp the painting's hidden essence. Cultivators with exceptional aptitude might decipher its nuances, even innovating beyond the original. But Xiao Chen decided to store the scroll for now. Not due to lack of talent, but simply because he disliked landscape paintings recently.

Other items included yao beast remains, demonic cultivator vital blood, and other Dharma materials. The demonic sect's philosophy was "nothing forbidden"—every part usable. Xiao Chen frowned as he sifted through blood-red demonic pills, finally finding two bottles of proper Supplement Yuan Pills.

His first instinct was to burn them all. According to the Yellow Springs Secret Canon, these blood-red elixirs and the blackish-red pills in bone vials were varieties of "Human Elixir", refined from cultivators' essence. Without the proper techniques, consuming them risked demonic corruption. Yet he hesitated—perhaps they'd prove useful someday, like the blood wine that helped defeat the Mutated Spirit Tortoise.

Most remaining items were demonic Dao artifacts. The last normal Spirit Herb was a perfectly preserved Three-Ring Cloud Leopard Spine, 5.4 chi long.

Though it appeared somewhat aged, the spine was intact and undamaged, its marrow likely still pristine.

"This is actually perfect! Now I've got the materials for my Body Cultivation all set."

This spine had been salvaged from Guijiao Zhenren's storage bag—probably something he'd never gotten around to using.

Now it was Xiao Chen's lucky break, ready to be boiled into broth.

The previous tiger bone soup had benefited him immensely.

This clouded leopard bone was even more intact. It should provide significant assistance to his Body Cultivation realm.

"But relying solely on this might not be enough to reach the third stage", Xiao Chen mused. "Once I reach the Eastern Territory, I'll inquire about bones from third-stage yao beasts. Drinking bone broth a few times should help."

After all, he had already solidified his Golden Body and forged his jade bone.

The difficulty of dual cultivation was significantly lower than a pure body cultivator's breakthrough to the third stage.

Since the Eastern Territory wasn't lacking in third-tier Spirit Herbs, it should also have no shortage of third-stage yao beasts.

"Hmph... Thinking about it, body cultivators in the Eastern Territory must have it much easier."

Body Cultivation practitioners who regularly consumed the flesh and marrow of high-stage yao beasts would gain immense benefits to their cultivation.

"Pop!"

A sudden crisp sound echoed.

The Beidou spirit flame within the dark chamber finally seemed to awaken, rapidly expanding.

The Flame Cultivation Platform immediately emitted glowing lights, forming numerous runes into a protective barrier to contain the spirit flame.

But the barrier shattered instantly, unable to form effective restraint.

Intense waves of aura pressure radiated outward, rapidly escalating to the peak of the third stage.

"Boom!"

Another deafening roar shook the chamber as the entire Flame Cultivation Platform collapsed.

The aura pressure began to recede, but the temperature surged violently.

The surrounding rock walls changed color within a breath, even showing signs of ceramicization.

Xiao Chen felt waves of heat rebounding toward him.

Since he had refined the Beidou spirit flame, it couldn't directly harm him.

Still, the ground beneath his feet grew scorching hot.

The air became unbearably dry, the heat scorching his lungs with every breath. Inhaling twice more would feel like roasting his internal organs.

Next, torrents of fiery energy began rising.

Even with the Nahuuo Talisman, Xiao Chen felt the dark chamber was already saturated with fiery energy, making absorption difficult.

He immediately retreated to the doorway, manually dismantling the chamber walls to connect with the outer mine tunnel.

However, as the fiery energy surged, the Beidou spirit flame at the center abruptly ceased its expansion.

It seemed to have reached its limit, or perhaps exhausted its power.

Frowning, Xiao Chen activated his spiritual sense to scan the flame's base, discovering the fourth ordinary spirit flame used as nourishment had already been completely consumed.

"Can't be!"

He hastily pulled out the fifth spirit flame, then grabbed the sixth as well, tossing them both forward.

In an instant, it was as if water had splashed into a sizzling wok or dry firewood had been added to a roaring blaze.

"Pom!"

"Pa!"

Sparks flew, and roaring flames instantly reduced the entire dark chamber to ashes.

The unrelenting inferno devoured everything, burning through half the mountain and creating a massive hole dozens of zhang wide in the ceiling.

The Fourth Stage spirit flame was incredibly fierce. The current outcome was actually due to the Beidou spirit flame's specialization in slaying living beings rather than incinerating inanimate objects.

Otherwise, the entire Cangyan Mountain would have been erased, turning dozens of miles around into a fiery wasteland.

Outside, chaos erupted.

Thankfully, when the aura pressure suddenly surged, nearby cultivators sensed the anomaly and evacuated in time, avoiding any casualties.

"Xiao Chen, what happened?" Mingyan Zhenren asked while casting a spell to shield against the spreading fiery energy. "Are you alright now?"

He had his suspicions but wasn't entirely sure.

"Senior sect brother, no need to worry! I'm fine!" Xiao Chen shouted back, focusing intently on the Beidou spirit flame's transformation.

The flames raged for half a watch before a small white flame suddenly emerged at the center.

How small?

About the size of a walnut.

Compared to the hundred-zhang-high spirit flame, it was utterly insignificant.

Yet the moment it appeared, it began rapidly devouring the surrounding flames.

Within mere breaths, it had absorbed the entire massive inferno.

Even the dispersed fiery energy was completely consumed.

If not for the cracked, scorched rocks, it would seem as if nothing had happened.

"It's done!"

Xiao Chen's eyes lit up. This white flame was the true Beidou spirit flame.

Despite devouring hundreds of zhang of flames, the tiny fire showed no sign of growing, gently swaying in midair as if a breeze could extinguish it.

Its color was oddly pale, almost devoid of heat.

But through his true mana connection, Xiao Chen could clearly sense the destructive power within the Beidou spirit flame.

Nandou governed life; Beidou governed death!

Any living being below the Fourth Stage that touched the Beidou spirit flame would meet only death.

Even Fourth Stage cultivators would need to tread carefully, exercising extreme caution.

"Absorb!"

Xiao Chen stepped forward, raising his hand.

The white flame immediately darted toward him like a homing swallow, plunging into his dantian.

It circled the golden core once, then the false core, before finally diving into the golden core itself.

This marked the completion of the Beidou spirit flame's advancement.

Flying directly out through the ceiling's massive hole, the sight below was devastating.

Cangyan Mountain's pavilions and terraces had all collapsed.

Flowers and trees nearby were charred yellow.

Mingyan Zhenren's painstaking work over a day and night was completely obliterated.

"Er, senior sect brother, I'm really sorry", Xiao Chen sincerely apologized. "I didn't expect the spirit flame's advancement to cause such a situation."

Mingyan Zhenren waved him off. "No problem, junior sect brother. I was halfway through repairs when I had some new ideas, wondering whether to redesign the branch hall anyway."

"Now this gives me the perfect opportunity to rebuild according to the new plan."

Two days faster or slower didn't matter to him—after all, the underlings were the ones doing the work.

"Alright then. I'll head to Hezhou to deal with the White Bone Demon Body first. Senior sect brother, farewell."

Xiao Chen didn't dwell, prioritizing his urgent journey to Hezhou.

Though the Divine Flame Cult had fallen, the White Bone Demon Body remained a major threat.

As long as it existed, cultivators would never find peace.

The sooner it was eliminated, the sooner Hezhou could restore order and begin rebuilding.

When Xiao Chen arrived at Yan'an Mountain on the southern side of the Spirit Origin Sect, he was met with a vast expanse of white bones.

From Qingxiao Sect to Wanhu Valley, the White Bone Demon Body had harvested tens of thousands of cultivators and countless ordinary people.

Though many bones had been refined and shrunk, they still accumulated into an endless sea stretching hundreds of miles.

Rolling slowly toward Yuan Ci Peak like a landslide.

In just over a month, Xiao Chen could now detect not one but multiple Golden Core-level presences within the White Bone Demon Body.

These were Bone Demon Puppets formed from the remains of several Golden Core Zhenren from Qingxiao Sect.

Their purpose was to hunt surrounding lifeforms, continuously expanding the bone sea.

The moment Xiao Chen appeared nearby, a massive spiritual sense instantly locked onto him.

This spiritual sense was extremely chaotic, as if dozens, hundreds, even thousands of cultivators were simultaneously probing him.

Outside, countless hair strands raised countless eyeballs.

Then, tens of millions of eyes collectively turned toward Xiao Chen.

Any other Golden Core cultivator would likely be paralyzed with fear under such a gaze.

Even with Xiao Chen's composure, he felt his scalp tingling.

The bone sea didn't stop moving, the eyes continuing their gaze with the help of the hair strands.

Meanwhile, nearby Bone Demon Puppets redirected toward him.

"Damn it, this is so disgusting!"

Xiao Chen rarely cursed, but he summoned the True Yang Fire Dragon to clear the approaching Bone Demon Puppets.

At the same time, he pointed casually at the bone sea ahead.

"Go!"

At his command, the Beidou spirit flame from his golden core flew out, diving into the endless bone sea.

The white flame blended with the bones.

Combined with the rolling bone sea, it was impossible to distinguish what was happening.

Gu Weiyuan, retaining a sliver of rationality, sensed something amiss immediately.

More and more bones were rapidly disappearing!

He desperately tried to halt their advance.

However, the central bone altar stopped immediately, but the bone sea behind continued surging forward.

Instantly, a dividing line formed, creating a small mountain range of piled bones.

Massive numbers of bones fell one after another into the rapidly spreading spirit flame, igniting the surrounding bones.

The dense bone sea, once the White Bone Demon Body's barrier, had become its fatal weakness.

One bone ignited two, two spread to four, four to eight...

Soon, the pure white Beidou spirit flame expanded millions of times, then tens of millions in the next instant.

Like an avalanche, it swept away all the bones.

As far as the eye could see, hundreds of miles were engulfed in flames.

Countless bones crackled under the spirit flame's scorching heat, quickly turning to ash.

Even then, the bone sea continued advancing for a quarter of an hour before the front finally ignited.

At the center, the small mountain-like bone altar no longer focused on Xiao Chen.

It was desperately commanding all Bone Demon Puppets to sever the connection between its core and the outer bone sea.

But it was too late.

The pure white Beidou spirit flame climbed the central bone altar from all directions.

Blossoming into a dazzling hundred-zhang-high firework.

"No!"

In his final moments, Gu Weiyuan regained clarity.

The massive altar cracked into several fissures, revealing a skeletal body stripped of flesh except for its skull.

"It's you again!" Gu Weiyuan glared at Xiao Chen with hatred. "You destroyed the Holy Bone and reduced me to this state!"

"By the Yellow Spring Sovereign, I offer my soul to curse you to the Avici Hell, never to be reborn!"

But this was mere impotent rage.

With the divine veil, such curses posed no threat to Xiao Chen.

Smiling calmly, he watched the Beidou spirit flame reduce all bones to ashes.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end